Apparently unaware of or unconcerned by the effect that establishment attacks have had on Trump’s surging popularity, John Boehner decided it would be a great idea to attack Ted Cruz at a Colorado fundraiser.
Speaker of the House John Boehner stunned audience members Wednesday evening at a Colorado fundraiser by referring to Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz as a “jackass,” two people in attendance tell The Daily Caller.At a Steamboat Springs event for GOP Rep. Scott Tipton, the Ohio Republican quipped that he likes how Cruz’s presidential campaign keeps “that jackass” out of Washington, and from telling Boehner how to do his job.
According to the DC, this statement did not sit well with some who were in attendance:
That remark rubbed some attendees the wrong way.“I don’t think it’s terribly speaker-like, and I think it kind of goes against everything that Reagan ever said about disparaging Republicans,” said Ed MacArthur, the president of Native Excavating, who attended the fundraiser.“It’s becoming very disturbing to me that we can’t have good, polite conversation,” MacArthur said. “It all has to be at the throat.”But MacArthur added: “I do believe he’s got the right to say it.”Another Steamboat Springs resident confirmed Boehner’s remark: “I about fell on the floor.”“To build coalitions to work together in Washington, D.C., you don’t start it out by calling your colleague a ‘jackass,’” she said.
Not only were those in attendance rubbed the wrong way, but presidential candidates have begun responding in support of Cruz.
Scott Walker called the remarks “just wrong.” The Washington Examiner reports:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker came to the aid of Sen. Ted Cruz Friday after reports that Speaker of the House John Boehner called him a “jackass” during a fundraiser.Appearing on “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” the Republican presidential hopeful called Boehner’s reported Wednesday night statement “just wrong.” Boehner made the comments at a Steamboat Springs event for GOP Rep. Scott Tipton, according to the Daily Caller.”I think it’s just wrong,” Walker said. “Even though I don’t know Sen. Cruz as well as I know some of the governors, I’ve grown to know him and like him and admire him quite a bit out on the campaign trail.”No, it doesn’t at all,” Walker said when asked if the party in-fighting helps. “Particularly at a time when so many Americans, and rightfully so, are frustrated that we can’t get things done in Washington. I’m frustrated.”
In addition to Governor Walker, Governor Huckabee also defended Ted Cruz, warning that Boehner’s remark was a “huge mistake.”
Listen to Huckabee on the Hugh Hewitt show:
Huckabee notes that Boehner may actually be trying to help Ted Cruz. He states that having Boehner or any of the Republican establishment criticize a candidate is something they’d “all be delighted to hear.”
Cruz may indeed have been delighted to hear Boehner’s comment, but he was also grateful for the show of support from Walker and Huckabee:
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